Monday, April 30, 2012

Back in September 2011, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled in Hart v. Electronic Arts, 808 F. Supp. 2d 757 (D.N.J. 2011) that videogame publisher Electronic Arts may use college athletes' likenesses in its videogames because "there are sufficient elements of [Electronic Arts'] own expression ... that justify the conclusion that its use of the image is ... entitled to First Amendment protection." (Previously blogged about on Sports Law Bloghere).

To many, the district court's decision in Hart was controversial, not only because it subordinates the rights of college athletes, but also because it expands what courts have traditionally defined as "transformative use" of one's likeness. For example, the court in Hart concluded that Electronic Arts' inclusion of“virtual stadiums, athletes, coaches, fans, sound effects, music andcommentary” makes use of player likenesses in NCAA Football "transformative." Nevertheless, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit had previously held in Hilton v. Hallmark Cards that First Amendmentprotection applies only where “a product containing a celebrity’s likeness isso transformed that it has become primarily the defendant’s own expressionrather than the celebrity’s likeness.”

After several months of contemplating the district court's ruling in Hart v. Electronic Arts, I have released a draft of my upcoming Florida Law Review article, entitled "Closing the Free Speech Loophole: The Case for Protecting College Athletes' Likenesses in Commercial Videogames." In this article I argue that the partial transformation to a person's likeness via digital format -- whether it be by adding additional background elements, or by changing one's jersey number, height or hairdo -- should not be seen as a complete bar to recovery under right of publicity law.

Instead, I argue that a partial transformation to one's likeness should be deemed as a partially mitigating factor that may reduce the infringer's liability, but would not reduce it to zero. Thus, under this alternative assessment, college athletes whose likenesses appear in college football videogames would be entitled to partial recovery.

For those interested in further discussion of college athletes' publicity rights in commercial videogames and the idea of partial recovery for partial transformative use of one's likeness, a full copy of my upcoming law review article is available here.

On April 26, 2012, U.S. Congressmen Frank Pallone and Frank Lobiondo (both from New Jersey) released a "Dear Colleague" letter explaining the impetus for the two bills they recently introduced pertaining to PASPA, the 1992 federal statute prohibiting state-sponsored sports gambling in all jurisdictions except Nevada, Montana, Delaware, and Oregon. An excerpt from the letter is below:

"We have developed two separate, but equally effective, pathways toward the same goal of bringing sports gaming and the economic benefits it yields to the State of New Jersey. The New Jersey Betting and Equal Treatment Act of 2012 (NJ BET Act), H.R. 3081, provides New Jersey with an exemption to the federal prohibition [in PASPA]. It allows state law in New Jersey to determine how sports betting will be regulated within the state. The Sports Gaming Opportunity Act of 2012, H.R. 3797, opens a window in which states can enact alaw providing for sports gambling within their state until January 1, 2016,after which the federal prohibition [in PASPA] against states allowing sportsgambling would go back into place."

If Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signs this new bill into law, Minnesota will join Iowa, West Virginia and a growing number of other states in allowing beer and alcohol sales at their college sporting events. This is at the same time that many colleges around the country claim there is a need to crack down on undergraduate students' alcohol consumption.

In a 2010 law review article, David Rosenthal (a former student of mine) and I discuss the inconsistent messages that college athletics send about alcohol use. Does it make sense for the University of Minnesota to arrest underage students for drinking beer on Friday nights, and then to sell beer in its football stadium on Saturday afternoons?

Also, when colleges profit from the sale of beer at their sporting events, are they implicitly using their 'student-athletes' to help peddle the product? If so, can we truly call these college athletes amateurs?

Sunday, April 22, 2012

I attended this week the first meeting of a group focused on sports venture capital. The attendees included representatives from the major sports leagues, venture capitalists and a number of initial stage companies with some technology or other services applicable to the sports industry.

MLB and NFL digital media execs gave a fascinating presentation on how those leagues use digital media to interact with and gain new fans, and what they look for when considering their own investments and other partnerships with sports technology companies.

The major sports leagues clearly see potential financial benefits from investing in initial stage technology companies, at least in part because social media is integral to their business models, as well as owning their own content. With the importance of social media for teams and leagues in heightening the fan experience (and increasing revenues), the proliferation of sports start-ups focused on technology and social media is likely to continue and teams and leagues are likely to continue to invest their own funds in these ventures. Technology companies like Apple and Google have been rumored to be bidders for sports media rights such as the English Premier League soccer.

The convergence of technology and sports, and start-up ventures, particularly social media companies, is a trend to watch.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

I have suggested that the brouhaha over Ozzie Guillen's "praise" of Fidel Castro was silly, in the sense that we are giving far too much creedence to the words of a baseball manager who has built a career out of saying provocative things. (I also recognize that I do not equate Castro with Hitler and thus do not get as exorcised over tepid compliments directed his way).

But I have also argued that the calls from some in the Miami-Cuban community for a boycott of the team and/or for Guillen's firing reflect precisely what the First Amendment demands: counter-speech in response to speech you don't like.

I attended today's game at Marlins Park (against my inept Cubbies), the third game since Guillen's reinstatement after a five-game suspension. Inside, Marlins fans seem to have moved on. I did not see any signs or banners about Guillen and he was not booed on any of the many, many times he came on the field to change pitchers or when he came out to celebrate the Marlins' victory. Outside, there were about two dozen anti-Guillen protesters, mostly in their 50s or 60s or older, which fits with the demographics of anti-Castro sentiment in Miami. No one seemed to be paying them much attention, other than to take pictures on their cell phones.

Former Florida guard Erving Walker has pleaded no contest to a petty theft charge of stealing a $3 taco ... and fined $301.

Walker, who just completed his senior season and ranks first in school history in assists, was arrested March 30. Gainesville Police said he ordered a taco from a street vendor, got the food and ran away without paying. ...

Barring an unexpected twist, like a mistrial being declared, U.S. v. Roger Clemens will be heard before U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton over the next four to six weeks. This is the case's second trial, with last summer's trial being declared a mistrial because prosecutors showed jurors comments by U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings about his views on the credibility of Andy Pettitte and his wife, Laura. This is likely the last "major athlete and steroids-related perjury" case that we'll see for many years. I suspect it will go out with with some fireworks.

The recent Maryland bill defines "fantasy sports" similarly to how Congress did in the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act. This means that the bill only applies to fantasy games that are based on skill, have predetermined prize amounts, and derive results from the performance of multiple players across multiple teams.

Based on this definition, it seems likely that Maryland residents will soon be allowed to legally enter and collect prizes in most fee-based fantasy sports contests. Indeed, CBS Sports has already amended its Terms of Service (here) to allow Maryland residents to collect prizes. By contrast, the Yahoo! Terms of Service currently continues to disallow Maryland residents.

For a more thorough discussion of the legality of fantasy sports games as well as a list of states where participating in fantasy sports games remains risky, see my 2012 Harvard law journal article, A Short Treatise on Fantasy Sports and the Law.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Sunday was the 65th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's Major League debut. I went to the game at the new Marlins Park, the $ 500 million public giveaway, and I was glad to be able to explain to my daughter who Robinson was. But MLB did something bizarre. Every singe player wore the # 42, without his name on the jersey. This literally made it impossible to know who was who, not only for geeky fans (like me) trying to keep score and follow player changes, but also for the PA announcer, who clearly made several mistakes in announcing who was pinch-hitting, who was pitching, etc.

I do not get the idea behind this tribute. What does it say to have every single player wear Robinson's number as his number (as opposed to as a sleeve patch), especially when it means every player seems to lose his own identity, at least for fans sitting far from the field (which at Marlins Park is pretty much everyone). Is the meaning that we all are Jackie Robinson, in the sense that all players, regardless of race or ethnicity, owe Robinson a debt? If so, the number 42 does not necessarily tell me that. I have never intimately associated Robinson with that number the way we associate Michael Jordan with 23, Wayne Gretzky with 99, or Mickey Mantle with 7.

Here is a nice discussion of the problem of consequentialism in the enforcement of the rules limiting hockey violence. As the author shows, the only way to understand wildly varying punishments in four cases arising in the NHL playoffs is that suspensions were meted out where someone was injuredand weren't imposed when no one was injured, even though the conduct and intent in the non-injury cases may have been worse.

I don't believe the piece goes far enough in condemning consequentialist punishment, however. Yes, the egg-shell plaintiff rule says you are responsible for even-unanticipated harms of your wrongful conduct. But it doesn't define the wrongfulness of the conduct. That is, a non-negligent act does not become negligent because of an egg-shell victim. So smashing a player's face into the glass is not less illegal because that player is uninjured. The focus on consequences and injuries misses that point.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

An interesting (and somewhat troubling) aspect of the coverage of the Bobby Petrino story has been the notion that the university decided to fire Petrino only after "the lawyers" got involved. Arkansas's lawyers got into the mix, pointing out the liability to which Petrino may have exposed them. And everyone was scared of the plaintiffs' lawyers representing the 150+ applicants who did not get the job. Mike Wilbon at PTI has been on this point for several days, as have some internet commentators.

As Mike's investigation shows, Petrino breached university hiring protocols and ethics rules, if not state law governing employment, hiring, and perhaps fraud. That is, and ought to be treated as, a far-more-serious offense than violating NCAA regs or having an affair. And it minimizes what he did to pass it off as a matter of "lawyers" getting involved. Maybe they're involved because Petrino did something wrong and/or unlawful.

I team up with David Epstein for an investigative SI.com story on Bobby Petrino getting a job for his mistress at the University of Arkansas. We used the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and some old fashioned digging to uncover pretty incredible revelations.We obtained and then reviewed the resumes of every single person who applied for the football player development position that went to Jessica Dorrell. We also went through dozens of emails and handwritten notes, and spoke by phone with a number of people connected to the story. Hope you have a chance to read our report.

Here's an excerpt:

* * *

Former Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino tried to sidestep University of Arkansas guidelines to quickly hire his mistress, Jessica Dorrell, as the team's player development coordinator, according to documents obtained by SI.com. The documents show that Petrino sought a waiver to circumvent a university affirmative action policy requiring that the job be posted for at least 30 days before interviews could commence. Dorrell's first interview was scheduled even before the waiver was granted by the university's Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance.

According to the documents, obtained via a Freedom of Information request, the job listing for a player development coordinator to serve the football program was posted on March 4. Five days later, Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long pushed along a request from Petrino and sent a memo to Danielle Wood, the school's assistant director of affirmative action, asking if interviews for the position could begin even though the job had been listed for just five days, not the required 30. "We feel that flexibility is needed," Long wrote.

Records show that on March 12, Carrie DeBriyn, the human resources manager for Arkansas athletics, e-mailed the university's Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance to ask that the hiring process be expedited at Petrino's behest. The e-mail said, "Coach Petrino would like to request to interview early due to needing a Player Development Coordinator as quickly as possible." Without filling the position quickly, DeBriyn wrote, "we could potentially make a recruiting error with NCAA rules and regulations." At 10:44 a.m. that same day, approval was granted to interview candidates. According to records, however, Dorrell's interviews had already been scheduled and were set to begin at 9:30 that same morning.

Dr. Fritz Polite, sports management professor at Tennessee and director of the Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Diversity, said that Arkansas's haste in brushing aside affirmative action hiring procedures shows that "the power lies with the coach to sidestep rules ... simply because he's winning."

* * *

To read the rest of the report, click here. To read Andy Staples's communications with a number of the denied candidates, click here.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Close to five years ago, Mike McCann penned a number of important posts here at the Sports Law Blog pertaining to tanking in sports (links to all of the posts can be found here). Over the course of the past two weeks, ESPN's TrueHoop blog re-visited the issue in-depth with a number of thoughtful posts. One of the TrueHoop posts focused on the research of Adam Gold that was presented at last month's MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. As a follow-up to the conference, the author recently released a video illustrating his findings in the context of the NHL, NFL, and NBA. Tanking is a fascinating topic from both a legal and economic perspective and has direct applicability to sports league policy.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Florida Coastal School of Law Sports Law Society will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, or more commonly known as Title IX, by hosting a panel of industry experts. Moderated by Professor Nancy Hogshead-Makar, the panel will discuss the intersection of Title IX, the commercialization of intercollegiate athletics, publicity rights of athletes, and other hot topics within athletics.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

I am quoted in a story on CNN about the five-game suspension that the Miami Marlins handed down to manager Ozzie Guillen for his recent comments about Fidel Castro.

Obviously, this is not a First Amendment problem, since no government entity is sanctioning or censoring Guillen. In fact, this is sort of what the First Amendment envisions: Guillen said something and a whole bunch of people are engaging in counter-speech, criticizing him, calling for a boycott, etc. It was the last one that caused the Marlins to engage in their own counter-speech by suspending him, thus expressing their displeasure with his comments. It perhaps would be nice if a large institution such as the Marlins would, in some sense, support free speech values by not sanctioning Guillen for what is clearly protected expression and only tangentially related to his job. But, again, the team has its own interests to protect and its own expressive rights that it may exercise.

Honestly, though, this all seems silly. The Marlins knew Guillen was a loose cannon when they hired him, so it is hard to take their outrage over his comments seriously. The outrage over his comments generally seems unwarranted; Guillen didn't express support or love for Castro, but made the (true) point that folks have been trying to kill Castro for going on 55 years and he's still holding on. But having lived in Miami for almost a decade, I understand and am not surprised by the reaction. Saying anything not negative about Castro is a bit like saying anything not negative about Hitler; I don't buy the equivalence, but that is a matter of perspective.

Blue Chips is designed to provide Vermont Law School students who demonstrate a talent and passion for sports law with (1) core skills in the practice of sports law; (2) hands-on assistance in pursuing jobs, SIPs and other experiences in sports law; and (3) opportunities for research and discussion of contemporary sports law issues.

The Board includes some of the most dynamic and influential persons in the industry. These individuals will help us build one of the nation's leading sports law programs. Their relationship to our school will also foster experiential and employment opportunities for our students and alums.

Monday, April 9, 2012

There Are Many Ways To Get The Lowest Interest Rate On Your Home Refinance Loan.

Maybe you need a little extra cash for a home remodel or college tuition, or perhaps you simply want to save some money. Whatever your reason, refinancing your home loan can be a smart move as long as you get a low rate. Here are some simple tips that can ensure you get the lowest rate possible on your Home Refinance Loan:

Clean up your credit

Lenders use your credit score as one tool for determining your interest rate. In general, the better your score, the lower your ...

Maybe you need a little extra cash for a home remodel or college tuition, or perhaps you simply want to save some money. Whatever your reason, refinancing your home loan can be a smart move as long as you get a low rate. Here are some simple tips that can ensure you get the lowest rate possible on your Home Refinance Loan:

Clean up your credit

Lenders use your credit score as one tool for determining your interest rate. In general, the better your score, the lower your rate. Before applying to refinance your mortgage, check your credit report and look for any errors. If you find a mistake that's negatively affecting your score--such as a payment marked as "late" when you sent it on time, or a line of credit that doesn't belong to you--be sure to correct those errors.

Shop around

You might not necessarily get the best deal from the same finance company that holds your mortgage loan. Make sure you check out offers from other lenders. You can do this by submitting your application to multiple lending companies, or by hiring a mortgage broker that will check out numerous lenders for you. To get the largest variety of offers, try different types of companies, such as banks, credit unions, online mortgage lenders and local mortgage brokers.

Negotiate

Once you've received a few offers, take the time to negotiate with lenders. Let them know that you have other options and that you're looking for a great deal. Mention their competitors so they know you're serious about your loan, and be prepared to walk away if the loan company won't give you the best rate. However, once you find a deal you like, ask the lender to "lock it in." Interest rates change daily, and locking it in guarantees that you still get a low rate even if rates soar the next week.

Remember: the interest rate is only part of the expense of refinancing. In many cases you'll have to pay fees, points and other extra charges. You can lower the cost of your loan by asking to have these fees waived or lowered.

Ways To Get The Lowest Interest Rate On Your Car Loan

If you're like the average American, chances are you buy a new car every five years or so. Most people need an auto loan when they buy a new vehicle, whether it's a car, truck, SUV or van and since the interest on auto loans can add up over time--especially on a five or seven year loan!--it's important to try and get the lowest rate possible on your car loan. So find a low rate car loan by…

Getting your loan before you shop!

If you wait until you get to the car lot to t...

If you're like the usual American, likelihood are you good buy a just starting out car each five years or so. Most family need an automobile mortgage once they good buy a just starting out vehicle, whether it's a car, truck, SUV or front line and since the benefit on automobile loans can add up on top of time--especially on a five or seven time mortgage!--it's worthy to try and develop the lowest rate doable on your car mortgage. So get back a low rate car mortgage by…

Getting your mortgage in the past you superstore!

If you hold your horses until you develop to the car delivery to think vis-а-vis financing, the dealer will try and back "dealer financing" on you. That's for the reason that his financing generally comes with in addition "padding" to cause you reimbursement more--and to boost his bed line. The benefit rate on dealer financing is often 3% superior than financing from a level, prestige union and or online mortgage company. So develop a mortgage in the past you superstore in lieu of a car. Another bonus: You'll state more negotiating power in lieu of the penalty of the car since the dealer knows you're a financially permanent customer.

Knowing the current tariff!

You'll by no means know if you're getting a capable deal except you know the ready tariff in lieu of car loans! Search the snare, call around to confined banks and ask acquaintances or variety could you repeat that? The current benefit tariff are in lieu of car loans. Survive all right to compare apples to apples by allowing for things like mortgage tenure, since longer tenure loans often state drop tariff. Your prestige history will state an effect on your rate, too.

Comparison shopping!

Get quotation marks from as many lenders as doable. Check with your current level, prestige unions, online lending services and other mortgage companies. Get by smallest amount 3 or 4 separate mortgage quotation marks so you can compare tariff, provisions and fees. Let them know you're shopping around and with the aim of you've expected better offers. It's doable they'll drop your rate or jump down your fees to develop your firm.

You may possibly besides require to consider an online lending service with the aim of allows you to compare tariff linking multiple banks and mortgage companies by lone stretch, since they're a suitable way to superstore around lacking getting multiple hits on your prestige loud noise.

3 Things To Watch Out For With A Cash Out Refinance Mortgage Loan

A cash out refinance mortgage loan is a great option if you have accrued a lot of equity in your home. If you owe $75,000 on a home that is worth $125,000, you could refinance the amount you owe and take up to $50,000 in a cash loan against the equity in your house. The money can be used to consolidate debts, do a remodeling project, or even invest. As great as a cash out refinance can be, there are a few things to think about before you decide to take out this type of loan.

A cash dazed refinance mortgage finance is a skillful option if you cover accrued a slice of justness in your residence. If you owe $75,000 on a residence with the aim of is worth $125,000, you may well refinance the amount you owe and take up to $50,000 in a cash finance next to the justness in your council house. The money can be used to consolidate sum unpaid, execute a remodeling project, or even invest. The same as skillful as a cash dazed refinance can be, near are a hardly any things to think in the region of or else you decide to take dazed this type of finance.

How far above the ground are the fees to refinance?

Taking dazed a residence justness finance habitually overheads a lesser amount of in fees than a refinance. Refinancing your residence can cost you quite a smidgen as soon as you consider privileged finance fees and the leeway of points. If you already cover a advantage leisure activity rate on your finance, refinancing so with the aim of you can find a cash dazed option, might mean paying a privileged leisure activity rate on a original finance. Featuring in with the aim of site, you might poverty to consider taking dazed a residence justness finance as a substitute of a cash dazed refinance mortgage finance.

How fast execute you need the money?

When you take dazed a residence justness finance, it takes a lesser amount of point in time to look into your money. Often, it lone takes 5 days to close. Coins dazed refinance mortgage loans can take a slice longer, so if you need the money instantaneously, it probably isn’t the top option.

Protect by hand from scam artists.

There are lenders with the aim of practice something called finance flipping. They talk into you to refinance your council house, taking dazed a smidgen of justness meant for a project or two. A hardly any months presently they draw near you to refinance again, convincing you to take dazed more cash from the justness in your council house. Their scheme is to keep having you refinance, tacking on great fees and probably increasing your leisure activity rate until you are so far in debt with the aim of you put a stop to up down your council house. This precise scam has been played next to many elderly homeowners with devastating results.

Taking cash next to the justness in your council house can be a wise move, but forever compare taking a cash dazed refinance mortgage finance next to the option of taking dazed a residence justness finance and elect the prepare with the aim of is top meant for you.

Cash Out | Refinance | Mortgage Loan

3 Things To Watch Out For When Getting A Home Equity Loan Online

The internet can be a valuable resource for researching the ins and outs of getting a home equity loan. It can also be a great place to find a reputable mortgage broker, as long as you are careful not to get caught in an online home equity loan scam.

Watch out for subprime lending.

Subprime lending is when a lender offers to give you a lone for an extremely high interest rate and tacks on excessive fees. Usually these loans are given to high risk individuals who are so ...

The internet can be a valuable resource for researching the ins and outs of getting a home equity loan. It can also be a great place to find a reputable mortgage broker, as long as you are careful not to get caught in an online home equity loan scam.

Watch out for subprime lending.

Subprime lending is when a lender offers to give you a lone for an extremely high interest rate and tacks on excessive fees. Usually these loans are given to high risk individuals who are so desperate for a loan that they don’t take the time to shop around for a company that will work with them despite a bad credit rating.

Watch out for equity stripping.

Equity stripping is when a loan is based solely on the value of your home, and doesn’t take into consideration your ability to repay the loan. The usual result of these loans, is the borrower can’t repay it and the lender ends up acquiring the home and all the equity in it.

Watch out for predatory lenders.

Predatory lenders thrive on setting up loan situations in which the borrower is destined to default, consequently losing his home. Some of the signs that you might be dealing with a predatory lender include a broker that requires you to put false information on the loan application, apply for a larger loan than you need, or sign blank loan papers, saying they will be filled in later. You also want to avoid lenders that promise you one set of terms when you first apply and then change the terms when it comes time to sign or refuse to give you copies of the forms once you have signed. Predatory lenders often misrepresent the type of credit you are being given and fail to provide the required loan disclosures.

There are a lot of reasons to apply for a home equity loan online. The process is fast, easy, and convenient, as long as you take care to avoid the pitfalls of dealing with unscrupulous brokers.

Home Equity Loan | Online

3 Things To Look For In An Auto Loan Company Online

Unless you have a lot of savings in the bank, chances are you'll need to borrow some money when you buy a new car. Auto loans are available through a variety of sources, such as banks, credit unions and auto dealer financing. You can also find a great car loan through an Auto Loan Company online, as long as you look for these three things:

A reasonable interest rate

Since you're borrowing from an Auto Loan Company online, your interest rate should be about 1-2% less tha...

Unless you have a lot of savings in the bank, chances are you'll need to borrow some money when you buy a new car. Auto loans are available through a variety of sources, such as banks, credit unions and auto dealer financing. You can also find a great car loan through an Auto Loan Company online, as long as you look for these three things:

A reasonable interest rate

Since you're borrowing from an Auto Loan Company online, your interest rate should be about 1-2% less than what you'd get through dealer financing. Search the Internet to find out what the current average auto loan interest rate is, and then compare it to the rate you're being offered. Watch out for any loan company that seems to be charging an exorbitant amount of interest, particularly if you have good credit and a reasonable down payment.

Low fees and extra charges

Some Auto Loan lenders will charge all types of extra fees, like application fees, document prep charges or credit score fees. As you compare various lenders, keep an eye out for outrageous or unusual fees. If one online Auto Loan Company is tacking on an extra cost that no other company is charging, you may want to ask to have it waived or choose a different lender.

No prepayment penalties

Whatever your loan term--three, five or seven years--chances are you'll want to pay off your Auto Loan as soon as possible. Many folks send in a little extra with their monthly payment, or they send in an extra payment whenever possible. If there's any chance you'll be doing this, make sure your online Auto Loan Company charges no prepayment penalties. Otherwise, you'll be paying an extra fee if you pay off your car loan before the loan term is over.

As you compare different Auto Loan Companies online, remember to choose a lender that makes you feel as if your business is their top priority. Find an Auto Loan Company online that's willing to work directly with you to help you get the best loan for your vehicle.

A 2nd mortgage loan after a bankruptcy is the easiest way to access cash. With online sub prime lenders, you can qualify for a mortgage as soon as your bankruptcy closes. But for near conventional rates, it is better to wait two years and build a solid credit history.

Bankruptcy And Sub Prime Lenders

Millions of people file for bankruptcy every year for many understandable reasons, such as job loss or illness. Sub prime lenders understand this and are willing to lend to...

A 2nd mortgage loan after a bankruptcy is the easiest way to access cash. With online sub prime lenders, you can qualify for a mortgage as soon as your bankruptcy closes. But for near conventional rates, it is better to wait two years and build a solid credit history.

Bankruptcy And Sub Prime Lenders

Millions of people file for bankruptcy every year for many understandable reasons, such as job loss or illness. Sub prime lenders understand this and are willing to lend to such people

Specializing in high risk loans with unconventional terms, sub prime lenders can work out financing for virtually anyone. Legitimate lenders will offer rates that are competitive with reasonable closing costs.

Bankruptcy Affect On Your 2nd Mortgage Rates

The first two years after a bankruptcy are the most difficult for your credit score. Right after your bankruptcy, you will qualify for “E” class loans, the highest rate mortgages.

After a year and a good credit history, you can qualify for better rates with a “C” class loan. Rates are typically about 3% to 5% higher than conventional rates. And in two years, you can possibly have an excellent credit score and get prime mortgage rates.

Other factors also affect your mortgage rates. Keeping a large percent of your equity in tact along with cash assets could possibly bump up your credit score.

Comparison Shopping For Better Rates

No matter when you decide to secure a 2nd mortgage, you need to shop loan rates before settling on a lender. Each financing company has its own formula for determining rates and closing costs. A careful search of loan estimates will ensure you get the cheapest rates and fees.

If you don’t have a specific lender in mind, start with a mortgage broker site. They partner with several different companies to come up with special offers. From there you can expand your search to individual lender sites.

When you are looking at rates, be sure they include closing costs as well. With some lenders, low rates are available only if you pay thousands up front. You may also want to consider a home equity line of credit if you want to keep loan processing fees to a minimum.

Same Day Unsecured Loans And Get Quick Financial Aid

To avail same day unsecured loans you do not need to risk any of your property. These loans are sanctioned in very less time so they are very helpful in emergency. You can find many same day unsecured loan lenders online. Select one who satisfies your requirements the most and apply for loan. Get quick financial aid without risking any property by same day unsecured loans.

At times, you have requirement of funds urgently and no asset to keep as collateral or not interested in involving collateral. In this particular situation, you have no any option except taking loans. Now-a-days financial institutions are come to help the people who are in that situation, by providing same day unsecured loans. Moreover it will be approved within least time that possible, usually it is within 24 hours.

As the name suggests the same day unsecured loans are sanctioned on the same day when you apply. Same day unsecured loan, one can be availed without placing asset as collateral and therefore is risk free for the borrower. It also means that tenant or non homeowner also can apply for fast unsecured personal loan without worrying about placing an asset as security.

Features and figures

To avail same day unsecured loans, you need to submit current account number along with post-dated cheque and proof of employment to the lender. After the agreement the amount is directly deposited in the borrower’s account in matter of hours generally 1-2 hours. And after payday the loan amount is automatically withdrawn from your account. So the post-dated cheque should match the due date. Generally same day unsecured loans will have a little bit higher interest rates. For this loan sanctioning your credit score is not taken into account.The amount of loan can be anything in range of ?1,000 - ?25,000 depending upon your salary. Repay time period is from 1 day to 30 days usually up to next payday. The interest will be certain percentage of amount we borrow usually it is 20%, and some lender go for rate ranging 15-25% APR. In case of failure of repayment by any reason it is very expensive and APRs will shoot up and if you continue to roll over, you could even be headed for debt crisis.

Cheap secured loans are provided against any collateral. If you want to go for the loans that will be suitable for your pocket, then cheap personal loans are the best option for you.

Are you searching a loan that would be relatively cheap? If yes, then your search ends here, as cheap secured loans are specially customized for you.

Cheap secured loans are offered against any collateral. It could be real estate, automobiles or some other valuable assets. Generally, with cheap secured loans, the ranges of borrowed amount are from Ј3,000 to Ј75,000. But, in case of greater amount, lenders will check the worth of your collateral. If your collateral has higher value then, lenders will not only be willing to offer higher amount but also a lower interest rate. Even cheap secured loans are available for a comfortable duration of up to 25 years and you can pay off the installments either monthly or quarterly.

Cheap secured loans however are offered at better terms and conditions that suit the borrower’s requirement. The interest rate of cheap secured loans varies from individual to individual. For a regular income earner, a lower monthly loan will help in saving a big sum of money. On the other hand, for a person whose monthly income is not stable, a loan with flexible monthly payments such as overpayments, underpayments or payment holiday will be highly suitable.

Nevertheless, cheap secured loans are obtainable against your valuable collateral. And for that, in case you fail to repay that can put your collateral in danger. So, before applying, you will have to calculate the amount you want to borrow as a loan. Needless to say, should borrow the exact amount, as borrowing a larger amount may become a huge financial burden in future.

Now the question is how can you get a cheap secured loan. It is a bit tough as many lenders offer cheap secured loans to lure people. But in reality, these loans are not at all cheap. Don’t worry. With some effort, you will be able to get a cheap secured loan. First of all, list your requirement- decide the amount you want to borrow, how long would you like the repayment period to be, what amount of monthly installment are you comfortable with.

Next step is choosing lenders. Besides traditional lenders, you can opt for online cheap secured loans. Even, finding an online cheap secured loan is easier- Just a click brings all data within a minute. And last but not the list, comparative judgment of various quotes will help you to get the best deal.

“The best comes with the lowest”- this line is truly applicable for cheap secured loans. Like other secured loans, cheap secured loans provide same facilities at cheap rate. It’s a favorable opportunity that will suit your pocket.

How Deferred Interest Mortgages is Good Home Financing

Negative amortization, or "deferred interest," describes loans that have payment adjustment caps in addition to interest rate adjustment caps. Negative amortization loans calculate two interest rates. The first is called the payment rate the second is the actual interest rate. The true interest rate is calculated as simply the index plus the margin without periodic caps.

Do 1.25% interest rates really exist? Neg am mortgages calculate several mortgagerates. One is called the payment rate the other is the actual interest rate. Fortunately, the payment rate is capped at 7.5% of the previous payment. The true interest rate is calculated as simply the index plus the margin without periodic caps. When the interest rate resets to a higher rate with a negative amortization Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM), the mortgage payment doesn't change. Instead, the additional interest expense is added to the loan balance.

Homeowners are given a choice of which rate to pay, which is why negative amortization loans are also referred to as "payment option" loans and option ARMs. Cost of Funds Index (COFI), Cost of Savings Index (COSI), and Monthly Treasury Average (MTA or MAT) are all examples of Alt-A negative amortization loans. The Mortgage Bankers Association of America (MBA) says alt-A loans' share rose from 8% to 11%. Why? Because of the flexibility these loans offer, not to mention affordability for a home purchase loan or if you want to cash out on your home equity with a mortgage refinance.

Another affordable loan option is the interest only loan. With an interest-only loan, you pay only the interest on the mortgage in monthly payments for a fixed term. After the end of that term, usually five to seven years, you must refinance, pay the balance in a lump sum, or start paying off the principal, which increases your monthly payments substantially. Like neg am loans, interest-only loans are option ARMs because borrowers have the option of paying only the interest or paying principal and interest.

Negative amortization and interest-only loans can be useful if you are primarily concerned with cash flow instead of building equity. If you only pay the payment rate, the overall monthly mortgage payment might be lower than a typical 30-year, amortization loan. If you're a short-term borrower who plans to refinance or sell the home within a period of a few years or if you have unsteady sources of income or too little documented income to qualify for a traditional loan, you may want to consider a neg am loan or an interest only home loan.

Why Refinance Both Mortgage ?

The hassle of making two monthly mortgage payments has prompted many homeowners to consider refinancing their 1st and 2nd mortgages into one loan. While combining both loans into one mortgage is convenient, and may save you money, homeowners should carefully weigh the risks and advantages before choosing to refinance their mortgages.

Benefits Associated with Combining 1st and 2nd Mortgages

Aside from consolidating your mortgages and making one monthly payment, a mortgag...

The hassle of making two monthly mortgage payments has prompted many homeowners to consider refinancing their 1st and 2nd mortgages into one loan. While combining both loans into one mortgage is convenient, and may save you money, homeowners should carefully weigh the risks and advantages before choosing to refinance their mortgages.

Benefits Associated with Combining 1st and 2nd Mortgages

Aside from consolidating your mortgages and making one monthly payment, a mortgage consolidation may lower your monthly payments to mortgage lenders. If you acquired your 1st or 2nd mortgage before home loan rates began to decline, you are likely paying an interest rate that is at least two points above current market rates. If so, a refinancing will greatly benefit you. By refinancing both mortgages with a low interest rate, you may save hundreds on your monthly mortgage payment.

Furthermore, if you accepted a 1st and 2nd mortgage with an adjustable mortgage rate, refinancing both loans at a fixed rate may benefit you in the long run. Even if your current rates are low, these rates are not guaranteed to remain low. As market trends fluctuated, your adjustable rate mortgages are free to rise. Higher mortgage rates will cause your mortgage payment to climb considerably. Refinancing both mortgages with a fixed rate will ensure that your mortgage remains predictable.

Disadvantages to Refinancing 1st and 2nd Mortgage

Before choosing to refinance your mortgages, it is imperative to consider the drawbacks of combining both mortgages. To begin, refinancing a mortgage involves the same procedures as applying for the initial mortgage. Thus, you are required to pay closing costs and fees. In this case, refinancing is best for those who plan to live in their homes for a long time.

If your credit score has dropped considerably within recent years, lenders may not approve you for a low rate refinancing. By refinancing and consolidating both mortgages, be prepared to pay a higher interest rate. Before accepting an offer, carefully compare the savings.

Moreover, refinancing your two mortgages may result in you paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI is required for home loans with less than 20% equity. To avoid paying private mortgage insurance, homeowners may consider refinancing both mortgages separately, as opposed to consolidating both mortgage loans.

2 Types Of Graduate Loans

Normally, graduate students pay for tuition fee more than undergraduate. Therefore, the main purpose of graduate loans is to help fund their education. There are two venues in which graduate students can obtain graduate loans: the government and private entities, (who provide alternative graduate loans). Each of these is discussed in more

Normally, graduate students pay for tuition fee more than undergraduate. Therefore, the main purpose of graduate loans is to help fund their education. There are two venues in which graduate students can obtain graduate loans: the government and private entities, (who provide alternative graduate loans). Each of these is discussed in more detail below.

1. Government Graduate Loans

This type of loan is the same as undergraduate loan. The only difference is name. Like undergraduates, graduates have the opportunity to get a Stafford or Perkins loan from the government.

Stafford graduate loans are available to any graduate student regardless of their financial situation. Two types of Stafford graduate loans exist: subsidized and unsubsidized. The difference in the two lies in who pays the interest. For subsidized Stafford graduate loans, the government pays the interest. Students pay for the interest in unsubsidized Stafford graduate loans, though there is the option of not having to make payments until after graduation.

A Perkins graduate loan is available to students who demonstrate financial hardship. It has an interest rate of only 5 percent and can finance up to $4,000 of the graduate student's education. For graduate students who are adversely limited economically, the Perkins loan is not a bad option. However, one must keep in mind that payments are still expected to be received promptly and perpetually. In extreme circumstances it is possible to request a deferment on loan payments until one is able to pay normally.

To apply for either the Perkins or Stafford graduate loans, one must submit a FAFSA form to the government. When the form has been processed the government will send a SAR (Student Aide Report) which will give further instructions on how to apply for these loans.

2. Alternate Graduate LoansThis loan has also been known as private graduate loans, are loans funded by non-governmental entities. Companies offering these loans could be banks, credit card agencies or any other enterprise interested in helping graduate students secure student loans. The Education Resources Institute (TERI) is an example of a company offering this type of loan. It is called the Act Graduate Student loan program. The application can be filled out online at http://gradloans.com. Decisions are received in as little as 15 minutes.

You can first try to visit websites of all the major banks because many do offer student loans services. Or you can use a search engine by typing the name of banks you know. Some banks will even offer graduate loan comparison charts to help their customers see how their loans stack up against the competitors. These charts can serve as a further aide in researching graduate loans.

The following guest post was written by Claire Zovko of Precise Advisory Group.

As the governing body for the sport of basketball worldwide, Federation Internationale de Basketball (“FIBA”) is responsible for the integrity of basketball at the international level. FIBA is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole competent authority in basketball. In May 2007, FIBA created its own dispute resolution mechanism designed for quick and inexpensive resolution of disputes related to the sport and its participants, i.e. clubs, players and agents. Originally, named the FIBA Arbitral Tribunal (“FAT”), FAT heard two cases in the inaugural year. To emphasize that it operates independently of FIBA, FAT was renamed Basketball Arbitral Tribunal (“BAT”). Within basketball, most disputes relate to unpaid wages and commissions. Almost five years after creation, BAT has heard more than 200 cases.

Disputes are “heard” by a single arbitrator with legal training and sports knowledge appointed by the BAT president. A unique feature of BAT is that the arbitration procedure is conducted in writing and 99% of cases are handled entirely though an online system. In-person hearings can be held upon request, though they rarely are. A BAT arbitral award is delivered within six weeks of the arbitral proceedings. The disputes before BAT are decided not on the basis of a national legal system but on the principle of ex aequo et bono, applying general considerations of justice and fairness without reference to any particular national or international law.

Read the full post here. Claire can be followed on Twitter at @clairezovko

Sunday, April 8, 2012

I have been following with interest this week's developments in the Bobby Petrino matter. I've written in the past about morals clauses in athlete playing, coaching and endorsement contracts (as have other Sports Law Blog contributors). These are clauses that enable the team, university or company to terminate a relationship with an athlete or coach because of "immoral" conduct. I've been able to write about morals clauses a few times because there are consistently scandals, like the Bobby Petrino matter, involving a famous coach or athlete.

Morals clauses can vary widely in the conduct they cover and the remedies they provide. A broad morals clause may allow termination of a contract simply for conduct that the employer determines to be "disreputable." A more restrictive morals clause may allow for termination based only on conviction of a felony. In addition to termination, a morals clause may give the employer other remedies, such as reducing the compensation or length of an agreement, or the extent to which an athlete will be a featured endorser.

Petrino's contract allows the University of Arkansas to terminate him for "engaging in conduct, as solely determined by the university, which is clearly contrary to the character and responsibilities of a person occupying the position of head football coach or which adversely affects the reputation of the (university's) athletics programs in any way." On the face of it, this morals clause would appear to give Arkansas ample basis to terminate Petrino's contract. Even so, it remains to be seen whether it will exercise its termination right. In fact, one of the interesting aspects of morals clauses is that, despite the fact that they can be highly negotiated provisions, employers do not always invoke their rights under such clauses. Even after coaches or athletes have engaged in conduct violating a morals clause, employers make economic decisions whether to continue their association with the coach or athlete engulfed in scandal.

Rick Pitino is just one recent example who survived a scandal, and not all of Tiger Woods's endorsers ended their relationship with him. Because of Petrino's success at Arkansas, and the revenue its football program generates, Arkansas' exercise of its morals clause rights is hardly a certainty. The content of this communication is intended to provide information on recent legal developments. Your use of this information does not create or continue an attorney-client relationship nor should the information herein be construed as legal advise. This communication may constitute "Attorney Advertising" under the New York Rules of Professional Conduct and under the law of other jurisdictions.

Friday, April 6, 2012

To survive the busy streets of the United Kingdom, free from the worries of meeting an accident and ending up broke because of all the expenses that it can cause, having a car insurance is a must. Tesco Finance could help you get and compare insurance quotes, anytime, anywhere. Getting such online only requires you to sit in front of a computer, type, click, read, and compare.

A Tesco car insurance quote can be easily acquired over the Web. In these times when almost everything can be searched and found through the Internet, you can do important things by just simply browsing during your free time. When you go to the web site of Tesco finance, you will easily see the link that will lead you to getting a quote. The Tesco insurance page will give you a more or less brief description of what's in store for you should you choose to get an insurance quotation of Tesco car.

The Tesco car insurance quote should prove what Tesco Finance and Insurance is promising. Discounts are awaiting those who will get it online. Those who will acquire the car insurance quote online will be entitled to a 10% discount. More privileges and exclusive discounts await Tesco clubcard customers. As for the newbies who are just trying out the services of Tesco, they can enjoy a 6% discount. Tesco adheres to its principle that consumers should not pay for more than what their insurance really costs. Thus, you can be assured that there will be no unreasonable or additional charges in the insurance of your car. Once you get a Tesco quote, you will be able to see the truth in this claim.

If you are still unsure, you can use Tesco Compare. Tesco Compare will help you see, study, and compare car insurance quotes, including the one from Tesco. Tesco does not only aim to help its customers find the cheapest insurance in cars, it also aims to guide consumers in comparing quotations of car insurances to help them find the best one out there. Hence, it will define and affect your decisions so it is better to be able to compare prices. At Tesco, you don't only get the insurances and quotes of the cars but you also get to see other quotes. Additionally, a bonus service will also be given to the customer who will acquire an insurance through Tesco compare. A free access to a lost key recovery service will be granted which is effective within a year.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

The most common problem that is hampering the lifestyles of most of the citizens of United States is obesity. Weight loss surgery has gained momentum in the past few years that helps the people to overcome this problem and lead a healthy life. Lapband surgery is considered as the fruit bearing weight loss surgery, in which the stomach is divided into two sections with the help of silicon tube. As the stomach is divided, you need less food to satisfy your hunger. In this way, you can maintain the weight of your body.

An Expensive Treatment Lapband surgery, being an expensive way of treatment, is not accessed by majority of people. There are a number of costs associated and thus, require to spend lots of money. It has been estimated that total cost of surgery is around $25,000. This cost includes various types of costs like:

Hospital Fees

Fees of Doctors and Surgeons

Fees related to Laboratories and various tests conducted

Other types of fees

Lapband Surgery Financing As the positive effects of this surgery have been proved time and again, there are number of finance and insurance companies that are lending the helping hand to patients aiming at weight loss surgery. The process of financing is tiring and time consuming, but once achieved successfully, it proves to be highly beneficial for people belonging to average sections of society. Also, for availing financing, one must be authorized by National Health Institute, which tests the requirement of this high-end surgery for the concerned person.

Adding Value To Insurance Approval Process As mentioned earlier, it is not at all simple to get privileged with Lapband Surgery financing, as it sometimes become hard to convince the insurance company about the need of this surgery. The steps that are required to be followed for availing insurance plan include:

Getting the referral certificate from your physician.

Keep record of the visits paid by you to different specialists.

Maintain a proper record of various receipts and medicines consumed by you till date.

Most importantly, you must read carefully, the terms and conditions mentioned in the company brochure to understand the available insurance cover.

After you have applied for the Lapband Surgery financing with a company, the insurance agent will verify the information provided by you from the hospital authorities and authorize you for availing the insurance plan. Your application is checked against following information:

The level of obesity possessed by you

Other types of disorders possessed by the patient

Addiction to alcohol and other types of drugs

In case, the insurance company has rejected the application, you are granted the full right to question the basis of this rejection in the appeal process. You may also consult a lawyer before filing the application for Lapband Surgery financing. There is a limit put on the number of times you can avail the insurance cover for undergoing this weight loss surgery.

Several years ago on Sports Law Blog, I debated Lindsey McDaniel, an educator, learning designer and basketball coach in Georgia, about the NBA's age limit and dress code (in short, I opposed them, he supported them). Lindsey has written the following essay, in which he argues, among other points, that basketball players should spend more time in college and that parents have become far too focused on unrealistic basketball dreams for their children. Here is the essay:

* * *

NBA: Mirror Image of Summer Youth Basketball Programs

The NBA was once a league of professional basketball players who possessed extraordinary skills. The players were considered the elite of the world due to a combination of athleticism, high basketball IQ, and a strategic mindset which far exceeded others who played the game for fun. The followers and fans of the game ranged from the executives in the boardroom to those who stood outside praying for a ticket to sit courtside. The child’s game in which Dr. Naismith created was perfected into an artistic expression of competition, where the individuals worked diligently to better their game, in order to be amongst the elite who played in the NBA. However, somewhere over time, the NBA took a turn for the worse when the opportunity to earn a substantial amount of money began to overshadow the ability to play a child’s game for fun and competition.

In the year 2004 the USA Olympic team which was comprised of players from the NBA, returned home with the Bronze Medal. In 1992, the first Olympic team with NBA players finished a rout of the Olympics, and brought home the Gold Medal with relative ease. The departure of those great players from the 1992 team has left a league which is in constant deterioration. The talented, skilled, and high basketball IQ players are outnumbered today by the money driven, selfish (THE DECISION), one on one, low basketball IQ, and all about me players. The debacle at the Olympics in 2004 was chalked up to as the rest of the world is catching up with the USA in regards to basketball talent. My thoughts on this are, the rest of the world is not catching up, but instead USA basketball is falling behind. The international game of basketball continues to appreciate the game the way Dr. Naismith intended it to be played. The international game works diligently on fundamentals, and strives to take one of the 400 spots at the NBA level. Therefore, it is not a coincidence when more and more international players are being drafted in the first round. It is not a coincidence that the champions of the NBA have at least one international player making a significant impact on their respective teams. However, home for the NBA is right here in the land of opportunity, the good old USA, and the talent pool is still primarily drawn from home grown soil. We have kids who are being sold false-dreams and convinced to enter the NBA draft, when they don’t have the strategic mindset or the mental capability to play at such a high level. However, he can perform a majestic dunk of a basketball, but don’t dare ask him to spell majestic in the interview after the game. So many can and would benefit from attending college a few more years, if they had their priorities in order, but how can you expect them to have their priorities in order when their parents are already shopping for their new Escalade.

One may not believe it, but at one time there was respect in this beautiful game. However, the potential to earn millions of dollars has spread like cancer, and is causing some coaches, parents, players from the professional level down to the grade school level to make some decisions which are borderline unethical. It is quite obvious there are some collegiate basketball programs which are now considered “one and done universities”, and there campus is only a pit-stop before the NBA draft. Therefore, since the draft is a few months away, why not pretend to attend some classes, and play some pick-up ball called March Madness. A downright disgrace and slap in the face to the programs who promote student-athletes first. Meanwhile the players at the amateur level are being groomed as early as 9 years old in summer basketball programs, which will ultimately form a loyalty allegiance as they get older; thus leading to a kid with superior talent either attending a school out of district or even out of state, as the super-teams are aligned. So why should this even matter, because the only sufferers are the high schools and districts where these students should have attended, if things were done ethically correct.

I realize that many probably want to blame the coaches at the amateur level, but in actuality the real blame should be placed on those parents who want to live their dream through their children, the same parents who see their child as a winning lottery ticket. Meanwhile they are easily convinced by these amateur coaches that their child is the next Michael Jordan, and focusing on basketball should be their number one priority. Some of these parents buy so easily into this grand scheme that they are willing to forfeit a year of their child’s education by having their child repeat a grade, so their athletic ability will far exceed the other kids they play against. Then there are the parents who have a child with average athletic ability, but the mere thought of being asked to play for an elite summer league basketball program is an honor. The coaches wow them with the mention of traveling across the United States, nice uniform, shoes, and a gym bag. Then they are told they will receive all of this for $1000 or more in some organizations. However, what they fail to realize is that the top players on these summer league basketball programs, they don’t have to pay. The coaches need them, therefore they are granted what the coaches call “scholarships”. So the question is; who is paying for those “scholarships”? The parents of the average athletic ability players foot the bill without even knowing it. Then again some of them do know it, but they could care less because their child is with an elite summer league basketball program.

As you see the NBA is becoming a mirror image of those Summer Youth Basketball Programs, so I fail to see why it is necessary to pay top-dollar at an NBA arena, when I can visit the local gym or park. If you look closely, the board executives aren’t courtside like they use to be, because you can rent And-1 mixed tapes and easily watch from the comfort of your home, at a minimal cost.

The opinion expressed in this my article is solely mine alone. (for now)

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Interesting Freakonomics Podcast (beginning at 28:00) from a few weeks ago, discussing booing at sporting events, art, and politics. It had some interesting tidbits that I can use when I return to writing on the subject.

One is that the Colonies brought over from England the concept of "audience sovereignty," which vested in the audience the right to boo and jeer political speakers--precisely what Alexander Meiklejohn eliminated from his theory of the freedom of speech. The second is the story of Johnnie LeMaster, a light-hitting shortstop for the San Francisco Giants. In 1979, LeMaster made some comments opposed to gay rights, causing fans to boo him continuouslys. After several wrrks LeMaster had a jersey made up with "Boo" on the back and wore it for a game, which immediately won fans over. And third is an interview with former Pennsylvania Governor and Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell, who talked about booing, especially when politics intervenes in sports.

With Tim Tebow now officially a Jet, I wanted to initiate my blogging by addressing a simple but important point.

According to reports, the trade of Tebow to the Jets hit a snag because of language in his contract relating to the payment of salary advances. Eventually the Broncos and Jets resolved whatever issue there might have been, reportedly by splitting the $4 million plus at issue. Mike Tannenbaum the general manager of the Jets, himself is a lawyer and the Jets have high-quality legal talent that they turn to for contractual and other legal issues, so I have no doubt that they handled this situation properly and there were in fact no surprises to Tebow's contract.

The issue that this situation highlighted for me is the importance of involving lawyers early on in an contractual review process, or other legal matter, when they can provide the advice that will set the transaction on the right course and avoid problems down the road. Without legal advice at an early stage, transactions can get off track and by the time lawyers are asked to get involved, the task of fixing the problem is often a more time-consuming and expensive one than had the lawyer been involved from the outset. This is as true in the sports context as any other.

We're thrilled that sports attorney Brian Socolow will be blogging for us.

Brian is chair of the sports practice at the national law firm of Loeb & Loeb LLP. His practice includes the representation of individuals and organizations in the sports industry in a wide range of legal matters, including intellectual property and technology issues, television and media agreements, the purchase and sale of assets, risk management and litigation. He represents companies such as The Burton Corporation and Hillerich & Bradsby, promoters of sporting events, and others involved in the industry.

Brian is a frequent lecturer and contributor to publications on topics ranging from intellectual property to sports marketing and has been named a New York Super Lawyer for Sports and Entertainment 2009-2012. He's a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Yale University.

Maybe you need a little extra cash for a home remodel or college tuition, or perhaps you simply want to save some money. Whatever your reason, refinancing your home loan can be a smart move as long as you get a low rate. Here are some simple tips that can ensure you get the lowest rate possible on your Home Refinance Loan:

Clean up your credit

Lenders use your credit score as one tool for determining your interest rate. In general, the better your score, the lower your

Maybe you need a little mega cash in place of a home-produced renovate or college tuition, or perhaps you simply plan to save about money. Whatever your good sense, refinancing your home-produced lend can be a smart move as long as you walk a low rate. Here are about plain tips with the purpose of can ensure you walk the lowest rate potential on your Home Refinance Loan:

Clean up your accept

Lenders mistreat your accept keep count as individual tool in place of determining your be of interest rate. Here universal, the better your keep count, the decrease your rate. Before applying to refinance your mortgage, check your accept check in and look in place of every errors. If you come across a underestimate that's unhelpfully disturbing your score--such as a payment apparent as "late" after you sent it on moment in time, or a line of accept with the purpose of doesn't go to you--be trusty to correct individuals errors.

Shop around

You might not necessarily walk the most excellent deal from the same finance company with the purpose of holds your mortgage lend. Make trusty you check prevented offers from other lenders. You can carry out this by submitting your claim to multiple lending companies, or by hiring a mortgage negotiator with the purpose of will check prevented numerous lenders in place of you. To walk the biggest variety of offers, try singular types of companies, such as banks, accept unions, online mortgage lenders and indigenous mortgage brokers.

Negotiate

Once you've acknowledged a not many offers, take the moment in time to negotiate with lenders. Let them know with the purpose of you comprise other options and with the purpose of you're looking in place of a utter deal. Mention their competitors so they know you're serious as regards your lend, and be prepared to gait away if the lend company won't cause you the most excellent rate. However, just the once you come across a deal you like, ask the lender to "lock it in." Interest toll alter day by day, and locking it in guarantees with the purpose of you still walk a low rate even if toll soar the after that week.

Remember: The be of interest rate is simply part of the expense of refinancing. Here many gear you'll comprise to earnings fees, points and other mega charges. You can decrease the cost of your lend by asking to comprise these fees waived or lowered.

The West Virginia University College of Law Sports & Entertainment Law Society is proud to present a panel presentation entitled "Pay for Play: NCAA Athletics as Opportunity or Exploitation?" on Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at 12 noon in the Marlyn Lugar Courtroom, in beautiful Morgantown, West Virginia.

The event is free and open to the general public. The panel features Ramogi Huma (President, National College Player's Association), Mike Parsons (Deputy Athletic Director, West Virginia University), Dan Fulks (Professor at Translyvania University and NCAA Research Consultant), and andré douglas pond cummings (Professor of Law, West Virginia University College of Law).

Leah M. Chamberlin, Note, Student athletes and the deprivation of rights of privacy and publicity—are fantasy sports leagues infringing upon the rights of college athletes? If so, what constitutes a viable solution?, 88 UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY LAW REVIEW 555 (2011)

Natalie L. St. Cyr. Clarke, Note, The beauty and the beast: taming the ugly side of the people’s game, 17 COLUMBIA JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN LAW 601 (2011)

Jennifer Ann Cleary, Note, A need to align the modern Games with the modern times: the International Olympic Committee’s commitment to fairness, equality, and sex discrimination, 61 CASE WESTERN RESERVE LAW REVIEW 1285 (2011)

Nicole M. DeMuro, Comment, Reestablishing the role of arbitration in labor law: avoiding the perils of Williams with the rationale of Pyett, 21 SETON HALL JOURNAL OF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LAW 467 (2011)

Kimberly Nakamaru, Note, Mining for Manny: electronic search and seizure in the aftermath of United States v. Comprehensive Drug Testing, Inc., 44 LOYOLA LAW LAW REVIEW 771 (2011)

Logan O’Shaughnessy, After review: an open letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suggesting that limiting the League’s disciplinary power under the personal conduct policy may be in the League’s best interests, 88 UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY LAW REVIEW 527 (2011)

Sarah A. Padove, Comment, Topps gets exclusive license, leaving Upper Deck on the bench: an analysis of Major League Baseball’s antitrust exemption in the modern era, 22 MARQUETTE SPORTS LAW REVIEW 235 (2011)

Nicholas Pompeo, Note, DNA to play: Major League Baseball’s use of DNA testing on Central and South American prospects in the age of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, 21 HEALTH MATRIX 627 (2011)

2011 Seton Hall University School of Law Sports and Entertainment Law Symposium: Professional and Ethical Dilemmas Facing Attorneys Representing Entities, Athletes and Entertainers,21 SETON HALL JOURNAL OF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LAW 381 (2011)